I have been with Microsoft since 2002, but I have been with Dynamics even longer, starting out with a Dynamics NAV partner in 1992. I currently lead the Partner Programs team in the US Dynamics organization and look forward to keeping in touch with the US Dynamics Partner Community on this blog.

The views expressed in this blog are those of the individual and do not necessarily represent those of Microsoft. This information is provided by way of general information only and should not be relied on without obtaining independent expert advice. These postings are provided "AS IS" with no warranties and confer no rights. You assume all risk for your use.

Join us for the Microsoft Dynamics Hour, a monthly live meeting event that will focus on one or two key operational topics or trainings, in-depth, each month. Executive Sponsorship presents partners with the opportunity to hear a monthly "State of the Business" update in the first part of each program from a senior member of the Microsoft Dynamics Operations Team.

In June, James O’Connor the General Manager of MBS Worldwide Operations will join the Dynamics Hour as the executive sponsor to share a state of the business focused on the Fiscal Year-end. Then Senior Credit Manger, Ronan Fenton will explain the new credit terms and how to best handle credits on your account. Finally, Operations Account Manager, John Bergman will walk you through strategy and tips to help make placing your year-end orders as easy as possible.

Register today for this session! The web seminar takes place at 9:00am Pacific on Thursday, June 4.

Microsoft Dynamics GP will be making continued investments to help partners gain market share and take advantage of the $4.2 billion USD market opportunity in the breadth space (25-250 employees). Take advantage of the new assets now available and watch for more to come as we continue to build out our supporting resources to help you capitalize on this strategic market opportunity.

On this page you'll find materials dedicated to:

Partner Readiness & Enablement.

CPA Engagement Resources.

Sales Tools connected to each stage of the Microsoft Solution Selling process.

The Through-Partner Marketing Team is excited to announce the Ready-to-Go Marketing Services pilot site is now live! Through surveys, interviews, and conversations with over 500 partners, one thing has been clear – partners want our help in getting marketing done. They want help in communicating their expertise, building their brand and generating leads.And by the way, they want it done fast, efficient, and cost-effective. We’re up for the challenge.

Overview – What is it?

A one-stop, online marketplace for marketing services from vendors that are offering special packages exclusively to Microsoft partners.

Discounted packages (avg. 28% savings) to help deliver the best value to partners.

Guidance on services that will help deliver the best impact based on partners' needs.

Partners can select from over 100 service packages in 11 marketing categories:

Case Study Development

Online Keyword Advertising (PPC)

Integrated Marketing Programs

Search Engine Optimization

List Purchase

Teleservices

Marketing Consulting

Promotional Merchandise

Newsletter Development

Microsoft Partner Events

Free Website Offer (Office Live Small Business)

The Value to Partners:

Save time: the best providers are already selected for you.

Save money: pay discounted prices exclusively for Microsoft partners.

Accomplish more: rely on marketing and industry experts to do the work on your behalf.

Grow faster: Generate more leads and close more sales.

Ready-to-Go Marketing Services pilot goals are:

To learn what service packages are most relevant to which partners.

How the selection and price points of packages work to best meet partner needs.

As highly valued members of the Microsoft Dynamics channel, I'd like to inform you of a few important changes taking place within the MBS leadership team effective July 6, 2009.

Keeping our sales, marketing, R&D and operations groups tightly aligned to deliver maximum value to our customers and partners has been one of the top priorities for the business. We have made good progress delivering towards this priority in the last 18 months. Most significantly, we integrated our ERP R&D organizations under a single leader creating greater clarity in product positioning and execution on ERP strategy. We aligned closer CRM R&D and CRM Product Management organizations within MBS. We succeeded in recruiting strong talent into our marketing and partner organizations. It is now time for us to take the next step by creating an integrated sales, marketing and operations organization that can maximize effectiveness in delivering value to our customers and partners under a single leader. By integrating these teams we will improve our ability to effectively market and sell business applications and best serve your needs as Microsoft Dynamics partners.

I am very pleased to announce Michael Park as the new Corporate Vice President, MBS Sales, Marketing, and Operations reporting to me. A software industry veteran with over 20 years of experience, including senior vice president of product marketing at SAP and GM at Siebel Systems, Michael brings a great deal of executive insight and depth to this role and we are very fortunate to have him on board. Michael joins us from the Microsoft North American Sales organization where he serves as the Corporate Vice President of US SMS&P. In this role he successfully leads a large team of sales, marketing, and partner management professionals responsible for serving over six million Microsoft’s business customers. Michael also brings with him extensive experience working with partners being responsible for Microsoft’s vast US-based partner community which includes Microsoft Dynamics. In this sense, Michael is no stranger to our business – many of you already know Michael and may have worked with him and his organization in different capacities. Prior to his current role, Michael spent a number of years as a Senior Vice President at SAP – where he drove several key initiatives and strategies including the market strategy for SAP’s service-enabled business applications. He has also held several leadership positions in customer relationship management (CRM) product marketing and sales management. Under his current leadership the US is among the largest and fastest growing markets for Microsoft Dynamics. He will be a huge asset to the business, and I am very excited about the value that he will add to Microsoft Dynamics partners. Maintaining and developing a world class partner channel remains a top priority for the business.

I would also like to announce that Klaus Holse Andersen will be moving to the Microsoft International organization as the new Area Corporate Vice President for Western Europe reporting to Jean-Philippe Courtois, President of the Microsoft International business. Klaus has been invaluable to the MBS organization. Under his leadership we were able to assemble our field presence into a dedicated organization that improved our ability to serve partners and outpace the competition. Klaus has always been passionate about pursuing excellence in the Microsoft field, and while he will be missed, I want to personally thank him for his contribution to the business and wish him best of luck in his new and exciting opportunity.

Michael and Klaus will complete FY09 in their current roles while transitioning to their new responsibilities to hit the ground running on July 6, 2009. With the right leadership in place, I feel confident that our strategy and execution are setup for success. I also want to reiterate our commitment to you. Effectively enabling Microsoft Dynamics partner success remains a critical element of our strategy and we will continue to support you with innovative solutions and services to drive your business forward.

Thank you for your investment in Microsoft Dynamics. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions.

I'm out of the office for the US Memorial Day holiday on Monday, so here's a quick preview of Tuesday's Community Call.

The Microsoft Dynamics Partner Community Call features Carly Nelson, Microsoft Services Program Manager.

There may be times when you could benefit from additional services beyond what is provided within support. With access to technical professionals from Microsoft Dynamics, Advanced Product Support Services (APSS) can provide the strategic assistance you need to help build your business. Advanced Product Support Services encompass a wide variety of services and products designed to help partners and customers get the most from their Microsoft Dynamics products; including Workshops, Tools, and Services. Join us to learn the details about the vast array of services that the APSS Team has available for our partners to take advantage of.

Register today for this session! The web seminar takes place at 9:00am Pacific.

We've recently created a new page on PartnerSource to be your one stop location for all existing customer campaigns and promotions. Gain access to sales and marketing resources to help you expand your skills, increase your opportunities and close more sales. This page is updated regularly, check back for updates! Areas discussed on the website include:

On-going Service Plan Campaigns & Promotions -- Microsoft periodically contacts customers to ensure that they are using the benefits of their service plan and to make them aware of promotions available for moving to a higher level support plan.

Do you know you have customers who are up for Enhancement renewals in June? To be sure your customer's solution meets their needs today as well as those in the years ahead, it's vital that they support it with a high-quality service plan. The Business Ready Enhancement Plan helps your customers to realize their full potential every step of the way with your Microsoft Dynamics solution -- from the moment they purchase the solution through the lifetime as a Microsoft Dynamics customer. The benefits your customers receive through the Enhancement Plan will help them address the business challenges they face, and drive a higher ROI, gain better control of their planning and systems and enhance their employees' productivity.

Take a moment to sign up for My Messages. Available through PartnerSource, My Messages helps you track, prepare and order service plans on behalf of your customers, enabling you to automate some of the most common transactions your organization has with Microsoft Dynamics.

Please join Dan Youngers, Microsoft Dynamics Partner Technology Specialist for this session "Discovery calls to win!" Dan has over 10+ years of experience in the ERP software industry. Dan recently won the "Microsoft Dynamics Demo 2 Win" Contest in Seattle, WA. Dan has helped many partners conduct great discovery calls – which has lead to hundreds of successful new sales.

Register today for this session which is sure to give you many tips in how to Win new Sales!

If you signed the Microsoft Solution Provider Agreement (SPA) in 2007 or early 2008, your contract expires on July 31, 2009. To maintain active-order status, you must sign the new SPA. With activation, you can continue to place orders for Microsoft Dynamics financial, supply-chain, and customer relationship management applications.

Visit the SPA homepage to learn more, and review the following:

SPA presentation -- Learn what's new and whether you must sign the latest SPA. Also, find out about requirements.

SPA comparison -- Compare then new agreement side by side with previous versions.